NEW DELHI: Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly initiated the deployment of 500 electric buses in the city on Thursday. This move elevates the count of electric buses in New Delhi to 1,300, marking a significant step towards reducing pollution.

Expressing his delight, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal commended the addition of 500 buses, extending congratulations to the residents of Delhi. He acknowledged LG Vinai Kumar Saxena's presence at the event, emphasizing that Delhi has now emerged as the leading city nationwide in terms of the number of electric buses.

LG VK Saxena highlighted the pivotal role these 500 electric buses will play in curbing pollution in the national capital. He affirmed the ongoing efforts to address Delhi's pollution issue and hinted at further measures to be undertaken.

Delhi's Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot underscored the impact of this initiative on reducing carbon dioxide levels. He explained that the fleet of 500 new electric buses, totaling 1,300 in the city, will significantly cut down pollution. Gehlot emphasized that one electric bus covers 200 km daily and approximately 70,000 km annually, contrasting it with reports indicating that a single CNG bus emits 800 grams of CO2 into the environment. The shift to electric buses is expected to prevent substantial amounts of CO2 emissions.

Recent discussions in the Supreme Court emphasized the urgency of halting crop residue burning, a major contributor to the declining air quality in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia stressed the need for state governments to take proactive steps to combat pollution and prevent a recurrence of severe air quality issues during the winter months.

The Central Pollution Control Board's data indicated that Delhi's overall air quality remained in the 'very poor' category, prompting further emphasis on urgent measures to mitigate pollution.

The deployment of 500 new electric buses marks a significant stride in Delhi's efforts to combat pollution and improve air quality, aligning with a broader initiative to create a cleaner and healthier environment for its residents.

Delhi Grapples with Severe Smog, Air Quality Hits Alarming Levels Again

Delhi Govt Set to Introduce Innovative Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme Today